Domaine Bessa Valley Enira 2016

	special quality wine, now ready to drink
	iconic Saint-Emilion producer: guarantee of top quality
	aged in small, French oak barrels
	can easily ripen for a few more years

Enira Reserva

Bulgaria Merlot Blend

Given the winemaker's background, it is not surprising that Von Neipperg's Enira is far above other Bulgarian wines and has a very French style. The small proportion of syrah (about 12%) also gives the assembly its own character and prevents it from being just another copy of Bordeaux.

Stephan von Neipperg is the famous owner of the renowned grand cru classé Château Canon La Gaffelière from Saint-Emilion. In 1999 he started a new vineyard with a German business partner in the Bulgarian Bessa Valley, 150 km southeast of Sofia. The prominent presence of limestone and clay is reminiscent of the better Saint-Emilion vineyards and is one of the main reasons why Von Neipperg sees great opportunities here.

In 2005, the vineyard - with 140 hectares of merlot (55%), syrah, petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon - was ready for the first harvest. We have been impressed with Enira's quality since the 2011 harvest. It is a beautifully crafted, luxurious red wine with the refined use of oak, warm and full-bodied and with a long-lasting soft aftertaste. The vinification of the hand-picked grapes is very similar to the method in Saint-Emilion, with sorting tables and the second malolactic fermentation in oak casks.

Maturation takes 12 months in one, two and three year old casks. As a result, the wood influence is nicely dosed, but not overpowering.